Barnes and Harnden win senior titles as West Midlands Champions are crowned

Toby Barnes (Lichfield City CC) and Harriet Harnden (T-Mo Racing) took victories in the senior men’s and women’s races respectively at the West Midlands Cyclo-Cross Champions.

Both riders have shown their strengths so far in the regional series and added the title to their collections.

Cob House Country Park in Worcestershire hosted its first ever cyclo-cross race and the course organised by Malvern Cycle Sport tested riders to their limits.

The first half of the course involved fast grassy terrain followed by some muddy running sections and difficult off-camber corners.

Under-23 rider Barnes continued his emphatic form with a faultless performance in the men’s senior event riding away from his rivals to win by almost three minutes.

Toby Barnes won the men’s event.Picture: David Perry

Behind host club rider Liam Killeen (Malvern Cycle Sport) led the chase for second but constantly lost time to the leader.

The main battle behind saw Ewan Grivell-Mellor (Mid Shropshire Whls) chase after Killeen before settling into a lone third place, but in the final third of the race he was being caught by Ross Harnden (Malvern Cycle Sport) holding onto bronze by 16 seconds.

“It was a really good course and it was quite technical with the off-cambers,” said Barnes.

“From the first lap I went hard to get out of trouble and I really thought Liam (Killeen) would bridge across to me but the gap go bigger and bigger.”

The West Midlands Championships saw a separate event for the junior and veteran 40-50 age category riders starting separately.

Local rider Simon Wyllie (Halesowen A&CC), from Worcester, dominated the junior category to win by a minute and 21 seconds.

The battle for the remaining podium places was a close one between Edward Woodward (MI Racing) and Matthew Kinston (Lichfield City CC) split by a single second with the former just edging second place.

Local knowledge also proved key at the new venue for Ed Moseley (Malvern Cycle Sport) who took another victory for the Worcestershire contingent.

Moseley started slower and was fifth following the opening lap before working his way back up to the leaders and taking the head of the race from the half-way point before holding on for victory.

Grace Lister (Wolverhampton Whls) led from start to finish in the under-16 girl’s event with Isla Mason (Team Empella Cyclo-Cross.com) in second and Isla Blain (Halesowen A&CC) third under-16 girl but fourth overall girl.

Third overall girl went to under-14 winner Ellie Swingell (Halesowen A&CC) ahead of Hannah Cockroft in second and Rebecca Woodvine (Mid Shropshire Whls).